Undergraduate / "Wild goose father"; TUFTS- "Let your life speak" [5]

time for me to ask for some help again! lol

Why Tufts?
Internet can only be of limited help when searching for my dream university in a country I have never visited, yet it convinced me that Tufts was the place. Tufts has one of the strongest International Relations department, my choice of major. I want to broaden my knowledge and explore core areas that may ultimately decide my future. Its 60+ core faculty from 16 departments in IR will allow me to explore my various interests. I believe Tufts' diverse opportunities will open many doors for me.

"Let your life speak" Describe the environment in which you were raised and how it influenced the person you are today.

In Korea they call it the "wild goose father," referring to fathers who send their children and wife to English speaking countries for their education while he remains in Korea to work. This pattern is a commonly occurring phenomenon in Korea, fuelled by their desire for better education, no matter the cost. Unlike many families who purposefully undertake this physically and emotionally challenging separation, ours was of coincidence. Our migration to Australia as a whole family ended abruptly when my father's business failed only after a year. Unable to find a proper job, he went back to Korea to find work, so we became a "wild goose family"

Though challenging and unexpected at first, I had gotten used to taking care of my brother and helping out my mother. I thought I had done to adapt well to Australian culture and speak the language well enough and thus have fulfilled my purpose.

But it was only recently that I thought about my parents and their sacrifices. I never thought about the lonely road my father walked in Korea, living alone working all day to provide for his children for years. I never considered the challeng path my mother took, looking after her two children in a foreign country, while being separated from her soul mate.

While this lifestyle of "wild goose family" is not ideal, it did make me become a strong individual; a mature person when facing a challenge, can say to himself "I've had worse, this is nothing." But most of all, now serves as my motivation. The sacrifices my parents made for me will not be forgotten and everything I do, I will do my best to make them proud, to make their sacrifices worth while.

"Self-identity and personal expression take many forms. Use the richness of your identity to give us insight: Who are you?"

The laughter died. The room became silent. I realized that I had just made the biggest and the most damaging mistake in my whole life in front of 300 people. Oh, I apologize. Let me explain. My motto is "get amongst it!" It just tells who I am.

...

all of these obviously needs a lot of improving and the last two are a bit too long. I need to shorten it but don't know how to! the first one needs to improve the first and the last sentence any constructive feedback is helpful! thanks guys!

Undergraduate / Essay word limit tip for students [9]

A lot of people are having problems understanding this word limit thing (as did I)

heres few "tips"

1) If you're sending your essay via internet (common apps for example) and the word limit it says is 150 words or less. The limit that the site will accept is 1500 letters. This could mean you max you can write is 130 words or 180 words (depending on the length of your words etc) But generally, you will be able to write more than 150words.

If the limit is 300 then the site will accept up to 3000 letters (including spaces btw)

another type is things like minimum 200 words. yes this means you can write a lot but doesn't mean you can write 1600 word essays. No matter how interesting your topic and how great your writing might be too much is not good. Best range is 600-800. This should be enough to introduce your story/idea and discuss the impacts on you etc.

2) If you're sending it via paper then don't worry so much about the word limits. This way you will be able to write much more than 150 words but not too much. The admissions officers have done this long enough to see that 150 word short answer has been turned into 500 word essay. But you can write more than internet generally.

Just another tip. All essays must have at least half, if not majority talking about yourself and how you have changed for the better because of your experience etc. A lot of people (esp for important people and their influence) talk a lot about the external important person or the event or the story itself and not enough evaluation about how you have changed as a result etc. The admissions officers wants to know about you not about Abraham Lincoln or September 11.

Anyway I hope that clarified for you somewhat. I'm not a great writer as I'm still struggling with my essays. But I hope I was of some help.

Enjoy!

:)

Undergraduate / why tufts? need to know if its specific enough [10]

Why Tufts? (500 letters)

As I began my search on the Internet for a university in a country I have never visited before, my expectations were simple. Decent international relations department, East Coast location and size big enough for diversity but small enough for engaging class discussions. Tufts satisfied my expectations and more. Staffs were easily accessible through emails, the homepage was simple yet informative and alumni's comments were nothing but full of praises. This "globally-recognized" university surprised me by making my heart yearn to begin my next chapter of life at Tufts University.

Now I just need to know if this is what everyone says is needed for why us essays.
Is this specific enough? I mean these are the reasons why I want to go to this school wholeheartedly but it seems to be too general.

and again, the last sentence needs some work

thanks!